Strap-machine



(N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. H. LEIBE & J. A. VANDERPOOL.

STRAP MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. H. LEIBB & J. A. VANDERPOOL.

" STRAP MACHINE.

No. 554,069. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' STRAP MACHINE. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

. KM A Inf Mt III (No Model.)-

I L. H. LEIBE &: J. A. VANDERPOOL.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

LUDWIG H. LEIBE, OF SAN JOSE, AND JOHN A. VANDERPOOL, OF NAPA, CALIFORNIA.

STRAP-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,069, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed April 27, 1895.

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LUDWIG H. LEIBE, of San J os, in the county of Santa Clara, and JOHN A. VANDERPOOL, of Napa, in the county of Napa, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strap-Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and improved strap-machine, and has for its object the production of simple and highly-efficient means for treating a leather strapthat is, cutting or trimming the edges,blacking, cleaning, greasing, and rubbing a strap in its passage through a single machine or apparatus.

The invention has for. its object the provision of simple means whereby a strap of any size may be fully treated, the parts of the apparatus being adjustable to accommodate straps of difierent widths and thicknesses.

The invention comprises the novel features of construction and also the detail combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims' In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of our improved machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sec tional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 00 223, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line y y; and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 2 2, all these sections being on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a modification.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the frame of the machine, and a a tank located therein and designed to contain liquid blacking. Beneath this tank is a heating medium of any kind to keep the blacking warm.

B is the edging or' cutting machine, which is located at the forward end of frame A. This comprises two upper blocks, 1) b, and two lower blocks, b 13 To the opposite faces of these blocks are secured knives or cuttingblades 1), which are preferably formed with their cutting ends bent or curved so as to accommodate a strap between them. When in their normal positions, the horizontal edges of the blades contact. The upper blocks, 1) 1),

Serial No. 547,363. (No model.)

are carried by a movable frame 0, the block I) being rigidly secured thereto, while the block b is movable toward and away from the block b. This latter block is fitted on a rod (I, mounted at one end in the frame 0 and at the other is fitted in the block b. A coilspring d, encircling this rod, serves to contions of the end pieces of this frame is connected a roller D, which may be adjusted and held at any point by any suitable means. Of the lower blocks, 12 b the latter is stationary and the former movc ble similar to its upper corresponding block, b. To it is secured a rod d, which is encircled by a coil-spring d through an opening in the side of the frame, and to it is connected an operating-strap (Z This strap is passed over a pulley d".

' From the blocks 12 I) extend arms d, which fit in corresponding slots or holes (Z in the upper blocks, 1) 1). Hence when the frame 0 is elevated the upper and lower blocks maintain their proper relative positions, and when the strap (i is pulled and the lower block, 19 is caused to move sidewise it carries the upper block, b, with it. In the opposite faces of these arms d are grooves (Z to accommodate the strap. Thus these arms serve as guides. To insert the strap the blocks 1) and b are moved away from the stationary blocks 1) and b the springs returning them and holding the knives against the side edges of the strap.

At about the center of the frame and midway over pan to is a vertically-movable frame D guided by posts e and e, the latter, 6, depending from an upper cross-bar 6 This frame carries a roller 6 beneath which the strap is designed to pass and thus be forced into the blackin A guide-rod e", projecting from frame D, extends through cross-bar e and is surrounded by a coil-spring a, which normally keeps frame D lowered. A lever The outer end of this rod is extended E, fulcrumed on a rod e supported by post e and a corresponding post 6 is pivoted to frame I) at At its outer end it is connected by a pitman c to a main operatinglever e fulcruined at e and connected at its inner end to a longitudinal bar a. This bar is connected at its front end to the bail of the cutter.

At the rear of the machine is the finishing device, which comprises means for removing the surplus blacking, greasing the strap, and smoothing the same. F is a vertically-movable frame composed of two cross-pieces ff, connected at their ends by grooved boards f which are capable of sliding up and down 011 the posts f" of frame A. A bail f connected to cross-piecesff, is passed through an upper cross-bar f, and to it is connected the other end of longitudinal bar a. Coil-sprin gs f serve to hold the frame F lowered, the cross-pieces f f being in constant contact with corresponding cross-pieces f. To the under side of cross-piece f is connected a rubber strip 9 of any suitable material for removing the surplus blacking from the strap. In this cross-piece is a pan or receptacle 9, having aforaminous bottom Zbeneath which is a strip of felt g This pan is intended to contain grease or other lubricant for greasing the strap.

G G are two vertically-adjustable edgingbars located between the cross-pieces f and f. In the opposite faces 9 of these bars are grooves g of different sizes, the opposed grooves corresponding with each other. One set of opposed grooves is designed to be on a line with the upper surface of the lower crosspieces f. These edging-bars are adjustable and capable of being held in place by a removable bar 9 designed to fit in grooves in the outer faces of said bars, the bar 9 also fitting in corresponding openings in the sides of frame A. The bars are adjusted so as to bring the desired grooves on a line with the cross-pieces f, according to the thickness of the strap being treated.

To the bar G is connected a rod 7L having bent ends, and to this red is loosely secured the inner end of a horizontal rod 7i, which is surrounded by a coil'spring 71, which tends to constantly hold the smoothing-bar G toward the bar G, so that a strap will be held firm in any two corresponding grooves of said bars. The end of rod h is extended beyond one side of frame A, and to it is connected a strap II which is passed over a pulley 7L3. This strap [I and strap 61 are connected to a main operating-strap I secured at one end to the main )perating-lever 6 the other end of said latter strap being designed to be connected to a zreadle (not shown) or other suitable device, whereby as the main lever effects the raising )f the vertically-movable parts of the mahine the horizontally-movable parts of the latter and edger are moved away from the respective stationary parts thereof.

In practice a strap to be treated is first inserted between the knives and acted upon by the latter, then carried beneath the depressing-roller c and then through the grooves of the two edging-bars, the movable frames of the cutter and finishing machines being elevated and the sliding parts drawn away from the corresponding stationary parts. After the strap is thus gradually inserted so as to extend beyond the finishing-machine the operating-straps are released and the movable parts are acted upon by their respective springs. The strap is then drawn through, and in its passage its edges are first cut or trimmed by the knives, and the strap is then subjected to the blacking-bath, and all surplus blacking is then removed by the rubber, and the strap is then greased, and, finally, its edges are rounded, so to speak, by the grooved edging-bars. The strap is then ready for use. Thus it will be seen that in the passage of a strap through the machine it is thoroughly treated in every essential particular.

While the means shown and described is the preferred form of carrying out our invention, yet we do not restrict ourselves thereto, as changes may be made therein without departing from its scope. This is particularly true as to the form of cutters or knives.

In Fig. 6 we have shown the knives J formed with bent back portions j and having curved ends 3'. hen the knives and blocks are positioned these curved ends of the knives overlap and the strap is designed to pass between them.

We claim as our invention- 1. A strap-machine having a cutter at one end for en gagingthe side edges of astrap, said cutter being adjustable for straps of different widths, and also having edging-bars provided with grooves of different sizes, and means for vertically adjusting and holding said bars, and also means for moving one of said bars horizontally, substantially as set forth.

2. In a strap-machine, a cutter having two lower knives and two upper knives for 0011- jointly cutting the edges of a strap, and means for raising and lowering said latter knives and simultaneously moving one of said upper and lower knives horizontally, substantially as set forth.

3. In a strap-machine, a cutter having two sets of blocks, upper and lower corresponding knives secured to said blocks, and means for simultaneously moving one block of each of said sets away from the other blocks, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a strap-machine, a cutter having a lower stationary block, and a movable block, knives secured to said blocks, a vertically movable frame, a block rigidly secured thereto, a second movable block carried by said frame and connected to said. lower movable block, knives secured to said upper blocks, means connected to said upper and lower blocks for moving the latter sidewise, and

springs bearing against said movable blocks, substantially as set forth.

5. In a strap-machine, a cutter having two lower knife-carrying blocks, a rod secured to one of said blocks, a spring bearing against said latter block, arms projecting from both of said blocks, an upper spring-pressed frame, two knife-carrying blocks secured thereto and having slots to accommodate said arms, a guide-rod for one of said blocks, a spring bearing against the latter, and means for.

moving said spring-pressed blocks, substantially as set forth.

6. In a strap-machine, an edger comprising two vertically-adjustable bars having a series of opposite grooves or recesses, and means for forcing said bars toward and moving them away from each other, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a strap-machine, an edger comprising two bars having a series of opposite grooves or recesses, and also having grooves on their outer faces, and a locking-bar for fitting in said latter grooves, substantially asset forth.

8. In a strap-machine, an edger comprising .two vertically-adjustable bars having a series of opposite grooves or recesses, and also having grooves on their outer faces, one of said bars having a rod secured thereto, a spring bearing against said latter bar, means for moving said bar against the action of said spring, and a locking-bar designed to enter the said grooves in the outer face of said bars, substantially as set forth.

9. The herein-described improved strapopposite grooves, a spring bearing against one of said bars, and means for simultaneously raising said vertically-movable frames and moving said movable edging-bar and movable knife-carrying blocks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUDWIG H. LEIBE. JOHN A. VANDERPOOL.

Witnesses to the signature of L. H. Leibe:

A. H. LAWRENCE, W. E. OROSSMAN.

Witnesses to the signature of J. A. Vanderpool:

G. F. AYER, OJB. ARNOLD. 

